Slovenia’s Hidden Aviation Gem
Everybody loves a major international airshow, but it’s often the smaller, under-the-radar events that deliver the biggest surprises. The 2026 open day at Cerklje ob Krki, Slovenia’s principal air base, was a perfect example, offering a rare opportunity to get up close with almost the entire inventory of the Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence.
Promoted on social media just five days before the event, the open day attracted only a couple of thousand visitors. Enthusiasts were remarkably thin on the ground too; aside from a handful of photographers from neighbouring Croatia, I seemed to be one of the few visiting aviation buffs. Rather than detracting from the experience, the low attendance gave the day an almost exclusive feel.
The gates opened at 09.30 and locals wandered onto the main apron with little fuss — no security queues, no ticket checks and none of the usual airshow headaches. For the photographers, however, there was a brief scramble to secure clutter-free shots of the static displays, where participants had been parked without barriers.
The static line-up was compact but packed with quality. A B206-3, B412EP, AS532AL, PC-9M and Z 242L occupied the south-west corner of the vast apron, while an adjacent flightline hosted a PC-6B Turbo Porter, C-27J Spartan, AT-802F Fire Boss and Falcon 2000EX. Inside the ceremonial hangar, a Z 143L and Velis Electro completed the display and, remarkably, leaving the sole L-410UVP-E as the only type missing from the Slovenian inventory - a notable achievement by the organisers.
Flying was divided into two 85-minute display slots. The action began in style with a pair of PC-9M Hudourniks from the 152nd Fixed Wing Squadron. After a series of tight formation and opposition passes, the pair split to give Major Andrej Fiorelli centre stage for his award-winning solo routine. The PC-9M remains a surprisingly capable display platform and Fiorelli’s energetic performance showcased it superbly.
The second formation item featured a pair of Z 242Ls. While less dramatic than the Hudourniks, the basic trainers delivered an entertaining routine that included formation manoeuvres and some unusual opposition passes seldom seen from aircraft of this type.
The AT-802F Fire Boss proved to be one of the highlights of the day. Its display was simple but highly effective, centred around two impressive water drops. What made the performance particularly memorable was the fact that the aircraft scooped its water directly from the nearby Sava River, adding an extra element of realism to the demonstration.
Rounding out the fixed-wing programme was a C-27J Spartan, one of just two operated by Slovenia. While the routine lacked the aggression and spectacle of the Italian Air Force's well-known Spartan display, it still demonstrated the aircraft’s impressive handling and offered far more than a straightforward sequence of flypasts.
The rotary-wing contingent was equally strong. Solo displays from both the B206-3 and AS532AL Cougar helped maintain the tempo, with the latter delivering the standout helicopter performance of the day. Agile, powerful and surprisingly dynamic, the Cougar would undoubtedly be a popular addition to airshow programmes elsewhere in Europe. The sole B412EP was less exciting, performing a winch demonstration that effectively consisted of two lengthy circuits around the airfield to insert and recover a winchman.
With the morning flying programme largely repeated in the afternoon - aside from the absence of the Turbo Porte - the event maintained its momentum from start to finish. Yet what made Cerklje ob Krki memorable wasn't just the flying. It was the accessibility, the relaxed atmosphere and the opportunity to see a nation's air arm almost in its entirety, all without the crowds that usually accompany such a privilege.
Cerklje's open day won't trouble Europe's premier airshows for scale or spectacle, nor does it try to. Instead, it offers something increasingly rare: easy access, excellent photography opportunities and a welcoming environment in which to enjoy them. For anyone seeking something a little different from the usual airshow circuit, it is well worth keeping an eye on.
